Burrowing-pest destroyer.



T. G. HITT. BURROWING PEST DESTROYER. APPLIGATION FILED FEB. 20, 1909.

Patented Mar.8,1910.

' anmwlioz TkomasGHiii.

UNITED srAT Es inrrnnronnion;

THOMAS GABRIEL HITT, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

BURROXVING-PEST DESTROYER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 20, 1909. Serial N0. 479.235-.

'l'o allwlzum it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS G. Hrrr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of lVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burrowing-Pest Destroyers, of which the following is a specifiing a burrowing pest destroyer hereinafter more fully described and particularly set forth in the claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawin which represents in longitudinal section a urrowing pest exterminator according to my invention.

A cartridge shell 2, is made of stiif paper or straw board, in cylindrical form'eovered with thin paper 1. This shell is permanently closed by a hard rammed plug 3, of clay, which, when it-' dries, adheres firmly to the shell. Over this plug the'covering paper 1. is tucked in. A small charge 4, of blasting powder is first placed in the shell, then the rest of the shell is to be nearly filled with a poisonous fumigating compound 5. Inf

contact with this, a ribbon fuse or quickmatch 6, is secured by twisting and )ressing in the light covering paper 1, close y upon it leaving the quick match projecting enough to be readily lighted.

I find that a half ounce of blasting powder is sufficient for the driving charge a.

For the fumigating compound 5, I use potassium nltrate, 11% parts; sulfur, 5 parts; and charcoal 2 parts.

proportions stated, without milling or poundmgthe charcoal being as coarse as mesh 36and fired as described, within the cartridge shell, the result will be a rapid This is important to the success of the device. If the proportions of the ingredients or their manner of compounding be so If these ingredients 5 be mixed together in a granular form, in the changed as to produce little explosions it is liable, when confined under ground, to t smother and extinguish the burning. If I the proportions or treatment'is such as to i produce sparkling or spluttering the animal will be frightened before the stifling gas reaches .him, and he will rapidly dig farther I into the ground, closing theburrow behind i him, so the explosion of the driving charge will be futile. Meal powder produces some of these ill effects and cannot be successfully used. Thus completed this cartridge is inexpensive and convenient for transportation ,and for use. To put it in service, the quick match is first to be lighted, then the cari tridge is to be placed Within the mouth of E the burrow, lighted end inward; then the mouth of the burrow is to be quickly covered with earth, completely. closing in the carposition 5, it ignites the same and easily is there very light, and thevburning composition produces a volume of smoke and poisonous gases which are fatal to all animal life. When the charge 4, of blasting owder is reached by the fire it explodesan drives the smoke and poisonous gas into every recess of that burrow, quickly killing all animals therein. If smoke issues from the ground anywhere near this burrow it should 3 be immediately stopped by piling on dirt to keep the gases inside.

i Each one of the three elements of this i compound burns readily and gives off a poisonous gas in burning, and the united effect is sure death to any animal which is thus forced to inhale the gas- It may be successfully used in destroying squirrels, sage rats,

i pocket gophers, moles, common rats, rabbits,

i prairie dogs, coyotes and other wolves; also venomous snakes; in fact any animal in a burrow or cave where the gases described 5 can be confined; and where the ground is thus thoroughly treated the posts Will be exterminated.

killed is already buried, and not left exposed to taint the air, nor to endanger valuable i life as it would doif killed aboveground by poison. As to expense; enough of these i cartridges to destroy several hundred such Patented Ma. 8, 1910.

tridge. lVhen the match burns to the com- One advantage not to be, l overlooked is the fact that ,the pest thus production of asphyxiating gas without any noise, explosion, sparking or spluttering.

pests can be bought at a less price than form in substantially the proportions stated, 10 would pay for the injury done every year by in combination with a cartridge shell, a driveach one of the said pests. ing charge and a quick match. v

Having thus fully described my invention, 11 testlmony whereof I aflix m"'sighature a What I believe to be new and desire to secure in presence of two witnesses.

by Letters Patent, is the'following claim: THOMAS GABRIEL HITT.

In burrowing pest destroyers, a compound Witnesses: comprising potassium nitrate, sulfur, and V. W. WAGER,

charcoal mixed loosely together in granular l M. R. MARTZ. 

